Chapter 2708: Story 2709: The First King Awakens

The palace doors opened slowly.

A wave of freezing air swept through the chamber.

Ronan raised his shield.

Lyra drew her bow.

Kael lifted his ancient sword.

Elias remained motionless.

The heartbeat continued.

THUMP.

THUMP.

THUMP.

With every beat, the red mark on Ronan’s forehead burned brighter.

“What is coming?” Lyra whispered.

Kael stared into the darkness beyond the doors.

“The First King.”

Ronan tightened his grip around his sword.

“I thought you said he was dead.”

“I said he isn’t.”

A deep growl rolled through the palace.

Then something stepped into the doorway.

It was a man.

Tall.

Enormous.

His body was covered in ancient black armor, cracked by centuries of age. Long pieces of metal hung from his shoulders like bones. A torn royal cloak dragged across the stone floor behind him.

His face was hidden beneath an ancient crown-shaped helmet.

Only two red eyes could be seen.

Elias slowly stepped backward.

“No.”

Ronan looked at him.

“You know him.”

Elias shook his head.

“I know what he did.”

The figure continued walking.

Every step shook the palace.

Outside, thousands of dead soldiers dropped their weapons and bowed.

The Beast lowered its enormous head until its face touched the ground.

Kael whispered:

“The First King.”

The King stopped before Ronan.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he looked at the red mark on Ronan’s forehead.

His voice was deep and ancient.

“Finally.”

Ronan raised his sword.

“What do you want?”

The First King looked at the weapon.

“That sword was forged from my blood.”

Ronan froze.

Kael’s eyes widened.

“That is impossible.”

The King turned toward Kael.

“You have lied to him for too long.”

Kael lowered his sword.

Ronan looked at him.

“What is he talking about?”

Kael remained silent.

Ronan stepped closer.

“Tell me the truth.”

The First King answered instead.

“Your parents were not your true beginning.”

Ronan’s expression changed.

“My parents?”

Elias stared at the King.

“You promised us.”

The First King slowly turned toward him.

“I promised you nothing.”

Elias’s black veins suddenly spread across his neck.

He screamed.

The dead soldiers outside began rising.

Not under Elias’s control.

Under the King’s.

Thousands of corpses lifted their heads at once.

Their eyes turned red.

Lyra released an arrow.

It flew directly toward the King.

Before it could reach him, a dead soldier appeared in front of him.

The arrow struck the corpse.

The soldier collapsed.

Lyra stared.

“There are too many.”

The First King raised one hand.

Every dead soldier turned toward Ronan.

Kael shouted:

“Run!”

But Ronan did not move.

The red mark on his forehead suddenly burned.

The dead soldiers stopped.

Their weapons lowered.

The First King stared at Ronan.

A faint smile appeared beneath his helmet.

“You see?”

Ronan’s sword began glowing.

“You cannot command them.”

The King stepped closer.

“They are not obeying me.”

Ronan looked around.

The thousands of dead were facing him.

The King whispered:

“They are waiting for you.”

Suddenly, the entire underground kingdom began shaking.

A massive crack opened beneath the palace.

Something far older than the First King screamed from below.

The King’s expression changed.

For the first time, he looked afraid.

“The First Beast has awakened.”

Ronan looked into the darkness.

And from beneath the kingdom came a voice:

“FIRST SON... COME TO ME.”